Potato chip packing machine



April 2, 1957 w. J. REYNOLDS 2,737,436

POTATO CHIP PACKING MACHINE Filed April 18, 1955 5 Sheet s-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. Q WALTER J'. REYNOLDS ATTORNEYS April 2, 1957 w. J. REYNOLDS POTATOCHIP PACKING MACHINE 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed April 18, 1955 INVENTOR.

WALTER J. REYNOLDS ATTORNEYS P Z 1957 w. J. REYNOLDS 2,787,436

POTATO CHIP PACKING MACHINE Filed A ril 18. 1955 5 She'ets-Sheet 5 INVEN TOR. WALTER J'- REYNOLDS ATTORNEY:

April 2, 1957 w. J. REYNOLDS POTATO CHIP PACKING MACHINE 5 Sheets-Sheet4 Filed April 18, 1955 FIG. \0

FIG.8

' INVENTOR. WALTER J. REYNQLDS A T TORNEKS' April 2, 1957 w. J. REYNOLDS2,787,436

POTATO CHIP PACKING MACHINE Filed April 18, 1955 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 IN VENTOR. WALTER J'- REYNOLDS A TTORNEYS United States Patent POTATO CHIPPACKING MACHINE Walter J. Reynolds, Portland, reg., assignor to WalterJ. Reynolds Co., Portland, 0reg., a corporation of Oregon ApplicationApril 18, 1955, Serial No. 501,898

13 Claims. (Cl. 249-18) My present invention comprises an improvement inmachines for filling receptacles with dry materials, particularly forfilling bags or other containers with light and possibly fragilearticles such as potato chips, macaroni, noodles, prepared dry breakfastcereals, and the like. While the machine is primarily designed forfilling bags with such relatively light, fragile articles, it is to beappreciated that it is likewise adapted for filling containers withother articles or commodities which are bulk packed, as distinguishedfrom articles which are packaged in alignment such as soda crackers in arectangular box, examples of such articles being pellet type candies,beans, dried vegetables, grains, coflee, corn meal, and variousfabricated articles. The principal object of the present invention is toprovide an automatic machine which will operate at high speeds toproduce uniform packages of exact weight.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a machine of theforegoing character which will not damage the commodity or articlesbeing packaged.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a machine of theforegoing character in which the filling charge is uniformly settleddown into the bag or open container so that the material of the chargewill not be damaged by bag-closing or other machinery through which thepackage is subsequently passed.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a machine of theforegoing character which is quiet in operation, and the various partsof which operate smoothly and free from shocks whereby the machine isassured of a long life and the operators are given relatively quietsurroundings during Working hours.

The objects and advantages of the present invention will be more readilyunderstood by reference to the accompanying drawings taken in connectionwith the following specification wherein like numerals refer to likeparts throughout, and in which a preferred embodiment of the presentinvention is disclosed as a typical machine for handling certainproducts such as potato chips.

In the drawings,

Fig. 1 is a view in perspective of a packing machine having the presentinvention enclosed therein;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation, partly broken away in vertical section, ofthe machine disclosed in Fig. 1; 1

Fig. 3 is a plan view of a bag-filling turntable comprising a portion ofthe present invention, the view being taken from the plane 33 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a horizontal section looking upward from the plane 4-4 of Fig.2;

Fig. 5 is a partial, vertical section taken substantially along line 5-5of Fig. 4; I

Fig. 6 is a partial vertical section taken substanially along line 6-6of Fig. 3;

Fig. 7 is a partial vertical section taken substantially along line 7--7of Fig. 2;

Fig. 8 is a partial vertical section taken substantially along line 8-8of Fig. 2 and illustrating a scale-tripping 2,787,435 Patented Apr. 2,1957 ice mechanism employed in the present invention as it appearsimmediately following tripping of the scale;

Fig. 9 is a view similar to Fig. 8 illustrating the scaletrippingmechanism at rest;

Fig. 10 is a similar view illustrating the action of the scale-trippingmechanism;

Fig. 11 is a similar view illustrating the scale-tripping mechanism atits subsequent position of rest;

Fig. 12 is a partial side view of a portion of the scaletrippingmechanism taken along line 1212 of Fig. 9;

Fig. 13 is a view, in perspective, of a modified form of means forfeeding material to the scale;

Fig. 14 is a similar view of a further modification of feeding means forthe scale;

Fig. 15 is a perspective view of a modified form of scaletrippingmechanism;

Fig. 16 is an enlarged view, partially in section, of a detail of themechanism disclosed in Fig. 15; and

Fig. 17 is a schematic side elevation of a modified form of dribble feedcontrol mechanism.

The typical machine disclosed in Figs. 1 and 2 comprises a supply hopperit into which bulk material may be dumped by any suitable means. Thesupply hopper feeds material into an elevator 3.1 which elevates thematerial in a regulated manner and feeds it into feeding mechanismgenerally indicated at 12. The feeding mechanism advances the materialinto individual charge-forming mechanism generally indicated at 13, fromwhich the individual charges are dumped into bags on a turntable 14.Bags may be placed on the turn-table by suitable means, in the presentinstance manually, and are automatically removed therefrom andprogressed elsewhere by a removing conveyor 15. It is to be appreciatedat the outset that the present invention i concerned primarily with thefeeding mechanism 12, the charge-forming mechanism 13, and the turntable14. However, sufiicient disclosure of the supply hopper, elevator andremoving conveyor is given herein in order that the complete operationof the important features may be understood.

Supply hopper The supply hopper (Figs. 1 and 2) comprises a suitable bin16 having a bottom 17 and a forward wall 18, along the lower edge ofwhich there is a slot 19. The bin is suitably supported in supports 20and 21 whereby it is free to be vibrated in a material-feeding manner bysuitable means such as an electric vibrator (not shown) whereby thematerial issues through the slot 19 in a constantly flowing stream whichis roughly regulated to the capacity of the succeeding mechanism. It isto be appreciated that the supply hopper is representative of varioustypes of mechanisms for advancing the material from intermittentsupplying sources such as potato chip cooking machinery to the remainderof the mechanism in a somewhat regulated, constantly flowing stream.

Elevator The elevator mechanism comprises an upwardly inclined trough 22having a lower end wall 23, and which is open at the top, and which issupported on a lower support 24 resting on the floor or the building andan upper support 25 mounted on top of a cabinet 26 housing suitablecontrol means (not herein disclosed). A pair of guide Wings 27 fixed tothe lower end of the trough, guide the material falling through therelatively wide slot 19 into the relatively narrow trough 22. A guidechute 28 pivotally mounted between the Wings 27 projects forwardlybeneath the slot 19 and receives the falling material, thus breaking thefall into short steps and an intervening slide. A dependingcounterweighted switch controller 29 fixed to the chute 28 controls aswitch 30 which is normally open. However, if ma- U terial should pileup on the chute 28 because of failure of the elevator to take thematerial away, the switch will be closed to stop the vibration of thesupply hopper through suitable connections (not shown).

The material is elevated within the chute 11 by the upwardly travelingupper flight of an endless belt 31 spanning the side walls of theconveyor and provided with a plurality of transverse cleats 32. The belt31 is trained about a lower idler roll 33 and an upper drive roll 34which is driven by a motor 35 through a speed reducer 36, a V-belt 37and suitable pulleys (not shown), which J-belt and pulleys are enclosedwithin a guard 38. The material drops from the upper end of the elevatoronto a control pan 3@ which is pivotally mounted at the forward end ofthe elevator trough and which is provided with a switch controllingplunger for operating a switch 40. As long as material drops onto thepan 39, the switch 4t? r mains closed and causes current to flow to themotor 35 through suitable connections (not shown). H wever, if thematerial ceases to flow across the inclined bottom of the pan 35, thecircuit is opened and the elevator is stopped. it will be appreciatedthat the control pan breaks the fall of the material into two shortsteps and an intervening slide, so as to prevent breakage. terial fedthereto is progressed into the feeding mechanism 12 at a controlled ratecorrelated to the speed of the succeeding mechanism, the elevatorserving to supply the material at a fairly constant rate in evenlydistributed, intermittently supplied, small portions.

Feeding mechanism The material is progressed from the elevator 11 intothe individual charge-forming mechanism by the intervening feedingmechanism 12, which comprises a first vibratory feeder 4i and asucceeding second vibratory feeder The first vibratory feeder comprisesa longitudinally extending vibrating pan 43 which is mounted on anelectric vibrator 44, the vibrator in turn being supported by springfeet 45 secured to cross-members 46 on top of the cabinet 26. As is wellknown in the art, such constructions feed the material forwardly alongthe bottom of the pan 43 by reason of the motion imparted to the pan bythe electric vibrator.

The material from the first vibratory feeder drops into the pan 47 ofthe second vibratory feeder which is mounted upon an electric vibrator48 supported by spring feet 49 on the top of a suitable frame. The frameincludes uprights 5 lower longitudinal bars 51, upper longitudinal bars52, and a forward crossbar 53. The vibratory pan 4'7 projects forwardlybeyond the crossbar 53 and the material fed therefrom drops into theindividual charge-forming mechanism as will be described.

in accordance with the present invention, the characteristics of the twoelectric vibrators 54 and 48 are such that a more rapid feeding movementis imparted to the material in the second vibratory feeder than it is inthe first vibratory feeder during a main or bulk feeding operation. Byreason of this construction the intermittently fed charges are runtogether to form a constantly flowing, uiform stream of material in thefirst vibratory feeder. For short periods of time the feeding rate ofthe second feeder may be made less than that of the first feeder toprovide a dribble feed, and this feed may be interrupted to accommodatethe intermittent action of the weighing mechanism, as will appear.

Individual charge-forming mechanism The individual charge-formingmechanism is illustrated in Figs. 1, 2, and 7 to 12, inclusive. Thematerial which falls from the forward lip of the vibrating pan 47 dropsinto a scale bucket 54 which is mounted on arms 55 and 56 extendingaround the crossbar 53 from the end of a scale beam 57 pivoted at 58 ona suitable support rigidly secured to a portion 59 of the The speed ofthe elevator is such that the maframe. A depending portion 60 of thesupport is pivotally connected at its lower end to a horizontal link 61which in turn is pivoted to a vertical link 62 extending upwardly andpivotally connected to the forward end of the scale beam. A secondhorizontal link 63 extends rcarwardly from a pivotal connection to anintermediate point on the depending portion 60 and is pivotallyconnected to a second vertical link 64 which is in turn pivotallyconnected to the rear end of the scale beam. The link 64 is formed tosupport removable scale weights 65 which determine the weight of theindividual charge. Various fine details of the scale are not hereinillustrated, this type of scale being Well known to those skilled in theart.

The scale bucket 54 is in the form of a vertically extending, open-endedconduit of rectangular cross-section throughout. A short, verticalpartition 66 (Fig. 7) extends fore and aft between the front and rearwalls along an intermediate portion of the bucket, the partition beinglocated midway between the side walls. Directly above the upper end ofthe partition 66 there is a horizontal rock shaft 67 which extends foreand aft and is journaled in the front and rear walls of the bucket.Directly below the lower end of the partition 66 there is a secondsimilar rock shaft 68. A guide vane 69 is fixed to the rock shaft 67 andextends toward the upper edge of the bucket. A pair of gates 70 arefixed to the rock shaft 68, the gates being at an angle of about 100degrees with respect to each other and of sufficient length to extendhorizontally across one-half of the bucket. The gates are so arrangedthat when one is in horizontal position the other is extendingdownwardly into the lower end of the bucket. The rock shafts 67 and 68extend forwardly through the front wall of the bucket, and are fixedrespectively to links 71 and 72 (Fig. 8) connected together by avertical link 73 whereby rotation of one rock shaft is accompanied byco-extensive rotation of the other rock shaft. The arrangement is suchthat when the guide vane 69 is thrown toward one side, thus directingthe material toward the opposite side of the scale bucket, that oppositeside is blocked by one of the gates 70 to form a pocket for a charge ofmaterial. Simultaneously a previously formed charge is dumped from thebucket from beneath the guide vane 69.

The rock shaft 68 is intermittently moved by the following means. Therear end of the scale beam 57 carries a small magnet 74 (Fig. 2) whichmoves upward past a pair of electromagnetic switches 75 and 76 as thescale bucket fills with material. Each of the electromagnetic switchesis of the type comprising a glass capsule having a mercury pool at thebottom which is normally engaged by a small contact bar mounted withinthe capsule and connected to an armature which is attracted as themagnet 74 comes opposite thereto. Thus the switch is ordinarily closedbut as the magnet moves opposite the armature the switch is opened tobreak a circuit to the con trolled mechanism. When the scale bucket isempty both switches are closed, then as the scale bucket lowers due tothe accumulating charge therein, switches 75 and 76 are successivelyopened, the latter switch being slightly higher than the former. Theswitch '75 controls the amplitude and speed of vibration of the secondvibratory feeder 42, or it may control the amplitude alone or the speedof vibration alone. This action is accomplished through a suitablecircuit including relays and rheostats (not shown) whereby the rate offeeding by the second vibratory feeder is greatly decreased when thecharge is nearly formed. For example, if a bag is to hold one andone-half ounces of material, the feeding rate may be rapid until one andone-quarter ounces have been deposited, whereupon the feeding rate isreduced to a dribble during the weighing of the last quarter ounce, andsubsequently thereto until the charge is dumped. It will be recognizedthat the movement of the scale bucket is relatively short, likewise thatof the magnet 74. For example, the magnet may move a total of one-halfof an inch during the rapid feeding of the main portion of the chargeand one-eighth of an inch during the subsequent dribble feed for theremainder of the charge. It will likewise be recognized that a highdegree of precision may be achieved by appropriate adjustment of therelative position of the magnet and the switches, by suitable adjustingmeans (not shown), and that the mechanism is devoid of friction creatingmeans other than the pivots of the scale links, which are accuratelyfabricated to reduce friction to an absolute minimum, as is well knownin the art.

A solenoid housing 77 is mounted on the forward end of the upper bars52, the bottom thereof being open and directly over the forward end ofthe rock shaft 68. A solenoid 78 (Fig. 8) mounted in the housing isprovided with an armature 79 extending downwardly in vertical alignmentwith the rock shaft 68. The solenoid 78 is energized to project thearmature 79 downwardly upon opening of the switch 76, which occurs asthe charge in the scale bucket reaches exact weight. The armature 79 isnormally held in vertical position by a pair of retracting springs 80tensioned between the bottom of the solenoid and a crossbar 81 on thearmature. The springs are strong enough to elevate the armature when thesolenoid is deenergized but not strong enough to prevent rapid,forcefol, downward movement of the armature when the solenoid isenergized, to an extent determined by abutments (not shown) on thearmature and solenoid. The lower end of the armature is in the form of asocket in which is received the upper end of an operating rod 82 whichis pivotally connected thereto by a pivot 83 whereby the operating rodmay swing slightly in a transverse direction. The operating rod 82 isnormally held in vertical alignment with the armature by a tapered coilspring 84 having one end fixed to the armature and the other end fixedto the operating rod. The lower end of the operating rod is pivotallyconnected by a pivot 85 to a transversely extending operating shoe 86,the arrangement being such that the shoe may cant toward either side toa considerable extent in a plane transverse to the axis of the rockshaft 68. A pair of coil springs 87 are tensioned between the outer endsof the shoe and a crossbar 88 fixed to the operating rod whereby theoperating shoe is normally held substantially level'in a centralposition as seen in Fig. 9. The operating shoe is directly above a pairof arcuate cranks 89 fixed to rock shaft 68 and extending laterally toequal extents and upwardly toward the oper ating shoe to equal extentson the opposite sides of the prolongation of an imaginary linesubstantially dividing the angle between the gates 70.

The arrangement is such that when the solenoid is deenergized and thescale bucket empty, the tip of one of the cranks 89 rests beneath onelateral extremity of the operating shoe (Fig. 9). As seen in Fig. 12,the lower surface of the operating shoe is preferably trough-shaped sothat firm engagement occurs, the trough being open at the ends so thatrelative lateral movement of the operating crank and the operating shoemay occur. When the solenoid is energized and the armature projected,the shoe gives a rapid shove to the engaged crank, thus causing theguide vane 69 and the horizontal gate 70 to start simultaneous movement.The various springs 80, 84 and 87 permit the shoe to slip laterally offthe tip of the crank in very short order, and the shoe will descendbetween the cranks as seen in Fig. 10. However, the inertia of movementthus imparted, coupled with the fact that the charge above the closedgate 70 exerts a force tending to open the gate, causes continuedmovement of the guide vane and the gate to dump the charge, close theopposite side of the weighing scale bucket, and guide the materialthereinto. The over-balanced mass of the guiding vane 69 causes themovement to be completed and is sutlicient to hold the guide vane andgate in the opposite position even though there should be some forcetending to reopen the closed pocket as the shoe climbs upwardly from itsposition in Fig. 10 to that in Fig. 11 when the magnet is deenergized,Fig. 8 showing an intermediate position of the shoe during such climbingaction following an actuation of the vane and gate in the oppositedirection. Suitable controls (not shown) cause the energization of thesolenoid to be of very short duration, whereby the shoe is rapidlyprojected downwardly and then rapidly retracted. The movement of theguide vanes 69 and the gates 70 is practically instantaneous. However,the emptied scale bucket moves slowly upward due to the inherentcharacteristics of scale mechanisms, so that the operating shoe hassuflicient time to reassume a horizontal position and the various partsof the operating mechanism to reassume vertical alignment prior toreengagement of the opposite crank with the bottom of the shoe, as seenin Fig. 11. It will be appreciated that the action of the shoe on thecrank is in the nature of a strong shove, which is terminated prior tocomplete movement of the crank, and therefore the mechanism is notsubjected to hammer blows during operation.

The second switch 76 also controls a series of mechanisms which areoperated in exactly timed sequence, to accomplish a series of resultsthrough suitable controls (not shown), including controls which energizea second solenoid mounted in the housing 77 (Fig. 2). The armature ofsolenoid 90 is projected upwardly to rock a bell crank 91 which isconnected through suitable links, as seen in Fig. 2, to a rock shaft 92supporting a depending brush 93 located above the end of the secondvibrating pan 47 and which is normally in an outwardly inclinedposition, as shown in dash outline. Energization of the solenoid causesthe brush to assume a vertical position across the open end of thefeeding pan, as seen in full outline in Fig. 2, thus holding thematerial in the pan. Any material which is subsequently fed forwardpiles up against the brush. The rapid action of the operating mechanismfor the cranks 89 assures reversal of the positions of the guide Vane 69and gates "70 prior to sufficient upward return of the scale bucket toremove the magnet 74 from operating proximity to the electromagneticswitch 76. This reversal of parts occurs instantaneously whereupon thebucket starts to rise, and in very short order the magnet 74 descendsfar enough to allow reclosing of switch 76, thus causing theoverbalanced weight of the crank 91 and the connecting linkage to returnthe brush to its open position. Material will thereupon commence fallinginto the newly created pocket even while the preceding charge is fallingfrom the other pocket. Thus the creation of the succeeding chargecommences prior to the time the preceding charge has left the scalebucket entirely, assuring maximum speed of operation of the machine.

The discharged material falls into the upper end of an intermediatechute 94 having a vertical front wall, inwardly inclined side walls 95,and an inwardly inclined rear wall 96. A fore-and-aft batile havingoppositely sloped vanes 97 is located in the upper. portion of thechute. The lower end of the scale bucket 54 extends into the open upperend of the chute 94 and is slightly restricted by inwardly bent portionsof the walls thereof whereby the opening from the scale bucket issubstantially entirely above the inclined rear wall 96. The atrangementis such that the material falls a short distance onto one of the vanes97, slides therealong, drops a short distance onto the inclined rearwall 96 or one of the side walls 95, and slides therealong, then throughthe open, horizontally situated, lower end of the chute, therebyminimizing the danger of breakage.

Turntable The turntable is illustrated in Figs. 1 to 6, inclusive, theprincipal element thereof being a flat top 100 comprising a rigid sheetof light aluminum alloy. Metal of light weight is preferred so that theinertia of movement as the table is indexed may be more easily overcome.

7 The table is polygonal in outline as illustrated, but could just aswell be a disc. The table top rotates in a horizontal plane slightlybelow the horizontal open mouth of the chute 94, and is provided with aplurality of rectangular openings 101 through which the dischargedmaterial may drop. It it to be appreciated that the table is indexed inshort steps so as to successively arrest the openings 101 beneath thechute. The upper surface is provided with a plurality of spaced pressurepads 102 close to the edge of the table and midway between adjacentopenings. Directly beneath each pressure pad there is provided a cam 193(Figs. 4 and 6) which inclined with respect to the lower surface of thetable rearwardly with respect to the direction of rotation.

A support 104 (Fig. 3) is mounted on the forward wall of a housing 105which is fixed to and encloses the frame members 50, the support beingslightly above the upper surface of the table top and including aforward portion extending substantially tangentially to the edge of thetable. A lever 106 (Fig. 6) is pivotally mounted on the support by ahorizontal pivot 107 and extends tangentially in the direction ofrotation. This lever carries a roller 108 which is normally spaced fromthe surface of the table when the lever is in its lowermost position andthe roller is adapted to ride up sli htly on each of the pressure pads$2. The extreme end of the lever 106 is bifurcated and is pivotallyconnected to the end of a spring housing cylinder 109 which extendsrearwardly with respect to the direction of rotation in a positionoverlying the lever 106. A spring 110 is retained within the cylinder109 and compressed between a forward abutment 111 and a rearwardlylocated piston 112. The rest position of the abutment 111 may beadjusted by an adjustment screw 113 extending throu h the end wall ofthe cylinder. The piston 112 is connected to a piston rod 114, whichextends through the open end of the cylinder, and is connected to theupwardly extending rear arm of a bell crank 115 pivotally mounted on thehousing by a pivot 116. The forwardly extending arm of the bell cranksupports a roller 117 adapted to engage the cam 103, and the extreme endthereof is connected to the armature 118 of a solenoid 119 mounted onthe housing.

The operation of the foregoing table arresting mechanism is as follows.The table top is rotated through a friction drive (to be described),which constantly tends to cause rotation. The spring 110 is compressedbetween the piston 112 and abutment 111 and tends to rock the roller 117upwardly and the roller 1% downwardly. As the roller 117 engages theinclined surface of the cam 103, the spring resists movement of therollers away from each other such that the gripping force exerted by thespring 110 through the rollers overcomes the driving force of thefrictional drive for the table. The table is thus brought to a stopgently, without the usual banging of indexing mechanism. It is to beappreciated that the initial compression of the spring 110 may becontrolled by means of the adjusting screw 113 whereby the table top maybe brought to a stop as gently as desired and that the thrust of theroller 117 against the table during a stopping operation is resisted bythe roller 133. It is likewise to be appreciated that thecircumferential extent of the openings 191 is sufficiently great with respect to the width of the chute mouth so that a reasonable range ofvariation in stopping points may be accommodated. The solenoid 119 isnormally d energized, and is energized in suitably timed relation to theactuation of the solenoid 78 for dumping the charge to assure cornpleteemptying of the charge prior to the next index'ng movement of the table,which takes place while the suc ceeding charge is being formed.Energization of the solenoid 119 lowers the roller 117 from contact withthe cam 103, permitting the frictional drive to move the table. Thesolenoid is deenergized as soon as the cam 103 clears the roller, thusraising roller 108 in readiness to bring the table to a stop at the nextfilling position.

The table is rotated by a motor 120 (Fig. 2) mounted in the bottom of ahousing 121 beneath the table. A belt 12?. connects the motor toreduction gear means 123 which drives a vertical shaft 124- extendingupwardly within the housing. A flywheel 125 secured to the shaftsupports the lower end of a spring 125 surrounding the upper end of theshaft 124. A driven shaft 127 is journaled in a socket in the upper endof the shaft 124 and in the upper end of an extension 123 of thehousing, the upper end of shaft 127 being fixed to the center of thetable The spring 12-5 thrusts upwardly upon a driving clutch disc 129which is splined on the upper end of the shaft and thrusts against adriven clutch disc fixed to shaft 127. The friction between the discs5.3 'nd is sufficient to rotate the table when the it g mechanism isdisengaged, but is insufficient to drive the table when the indexingmechanism is engagcd as previously described.

A plurality of bag-supporting and filling chutes 131 are indi duallysupported beneath the openings 101 in the table top. chute is supportedat the outer end of a horizontal plate 132 extending radially outwardfrom :1 depending block 133 fixed to the lower surface of the tabie top.The upper horizontal edge of the chute 131 is spaced from the lowersurface of the table a short distance, and the plate 132 is formed of aspring metal, such as a suitable aluminum alloy, whereby jogging motionmay be imparted to the chutes. The bag-supporting and filling chute 131is rigidly secured to the free end of the plate which plate thereforecomprises a resilient mounting permitting vertical jogging of the chute.

The motor also (iii-3E5 jogging mechanism as fol- T he motor isconnected by a belt 134 and pulleys 135 raving a short throw, in theorder of ta of an inch or less. wardly of 111v pivotally connected atportion of a jogging lever i ported by a transverse pivot the housingextension a. slotted at its attached en 50 that the driven shaft 127 maypass therethrough. he lever 137 is an irregularly shaped plate extendingacross the top of the housing extension and thcrebeycnd toward thecharge-forming on A 37, which is pivotally sup- 133 mounted on the topof The jogging lever 137 is it T mechtn r illl" in a flange having twoportions po ned at an angic to each other and each extending rightangles to a radius of the table, the

angle between said portions being equal to the angle between a pair ofadjacent filling chutes. A pair of wheels 1411 mou parallel to the twoflange portions and in front of to an on fixed spindles 51 secured tothe flanges. Each wheel supports a rubber tire 142. The

tires rotate in vertic l pianes, normal to the surface of the table. Aninverted strap is mounted on and depends from the bottom of anintermediate portion of each of the chute-mounting plates 13?. inposition to engage the tires 1 12. Thus, the chute beneath the scalebucket and. the one succeeding in the direction of rotation are bothjogged by the reciprocating pitman 36. The jogging is smoothlytransmitted to the chutes by reason of the strap 143 engaging the top ofthe rubber tire 142, tion as to initially stress the 'dly. By reason ofthis en 2. the mounting plate does 9 bag is placed on the bag-holdingchute by a worke sitting in the angle between the removal conveyor 15and the housing 105. From inspection of Fig. 1 it may be seen that theoperator has an empty bag chute within reach during a filling operationand during the movement prior and succeeding thereto. The lower edge ofthe chute 131 is sloped radially inward, so as to provide a wedge shapefor facilitating entry of the chute into the open end of the bag. Thebag is retained on the chute by a pair of upwardly inclined, grippingfingers 144 (Figs. 2 and 4) which are mounted on a bar 145 fixed to anddepending from the plate 132. A pair of springs 1% tensioned between thebar and rearwardly projecting portions of the fingers 1M maintain theupper ends of the fingers pressed against the bag-holding chute. Theupper ends of the fingers are preferably provided with rubber capsfrictionally to grip the material of the bag and hold it firmly on thechute during the filling and jogging operation. A cam plate 147 mountedon a bracket extending radially outward from the housing extension 128presses downwardly and outwardly against the rear portions of thegripping fingers as the filled and jogged bag reaches the end of theremoval conveyor 15, thereby releasing the filled bag to drop upon theremoval conveyor at the proper time. A second cam plate 148 is providedadjacent the operators station in position to lift the fingers from thesurface of the chute so that the bag may be positioned withoutinterference. When the operator has properly positioned the bag, heholds it lightly in position until the table is indexed again, thuscausing the gripping fingers to pass beyond the cam plate 148 and engagethe bag. A removable pin 149 is positioned beneath the weighingmechanism to salvage material which would otherwise drop onto the floorin the event the operator does not position a bag on the empty chuteapproaching the weighing mechanism.

Removal conveyor As illustrated in Fig. 1, the removal conveyorcomprises an endless belt 151 mounted in a suitable frame 152 holdingguide and drive rolls (not shown), the frame supporting suitable guiderails 153 at each side (one set being removed for convenience ofillustration). It is to be appreciated that any other removal mechanismmay be employed including means for feeding the filled bag or othercontainer directly into sealing or closing mechanism.

Modifications Fig. 13 shows a modification of the vibratory feeding panand which may be substituted for the pan of the vibratory feeder 42 ofFig. 1. The pan 155 of Fig. 13 is provided with a pair of longitudinallyextending interior partitions 156 at its forward end, which divide theopen end of the pan into three parallel subdivisions. A rock shaft 157mounts a pair of holding brushes 158, each of which is adapted to blockoff one of the outer subdivisions. These brushes are elevated during thebulk feed accomplished by high speed vibration of the pan, but aredepressed to block off the outer sections of the pan during the lowspeed dribble operation. Thus only a certain limited amount of materialcan escape from the pan during the dribble feeding operation, whichaffords a greater degree of accuracy with some commodities. It is to beappreciated that the foregoing might be utilized in conjunction with acentral brush which is actuated at the end of the dribble feedcompletely to block off the feeding operation.

A further modification of the foregoing is illustrated in Fig. 14wherein the vibratory feeding pan 160 is subdivided into three sectionsby a pair of adjustable, longitudinally extending partitions 161, whichare provided with hangers 162 extending outward over the upperlongitudinal bars 52, the hangers being provided with elongated slots163 through which pass screws extending into the bars, and whereby therespective widths of the several troughs thus formed may be altered tosuit the particular conirnodity. As previously described, a rock shaft164 supports a pair of brushes 165 for blocking off the outer troughs,with which there may be provided a central brush operated as previouslydescribed.

The modification disclosed in Figs. 15 and 16 illustrates a scale bucketwhich is particularly adapted for very fragile commodities which cannotbe dropped, as in the scale bucket illustrated in Fig. 7. In order totake care of this situation, all surfaces past which the articles moveduring their fall from one level to another are inclined so that thematerial slides downwardly along the bottoms of troughs rather thandropping vertically through chutes. The scale bucket is likewiseinclined, so that material will slide downwardly along the rear wall 171thereof. As previously described, the scale bucket encloses a pivotedguiding vane 1'72 and a pair of gates 173 which are linked together by alinkage of the type previously described, and which are operated by anoperating shoe 174 striking a pair of cranks 175 similar to the cranks89 previously described. In this instance the operating solenoid 176projects an armature 177 which is pivotally connected to an operatingrod 178, the lower end of which is pivotally connected to the shoe 174,which is maintained in substantially central position by a pair ofsprings 1'79. The shoe is guided toward the operative crank 175 by aroller 18b surrounding a disc 181 fixed to the lower end of an arm 182projecting downwardly from the rod 178. A ball 183 is retained in acentral socket in the lower surface of the disc by a suitable retainer184 through which the surface of the ball projects, and engages theupper surface of the upper wall 185 of the scale bucket. Thus, theoperating rod 178 is maintained in substantial parallelism with the wall185 so that the shoe is maintained in correct alignment with theoperating cranks. It will be appreciated that even though the scalebucket is set at an inclination, its movement during weighing issubstantially vertical, so that the pivotal connection between thearmature 1'77 and the operating rod 178 is so formed as to permit playwhereby the operating shoe may follow the bucket downwardly. The rollerengages a pair of guide bars 186 fixed to the upper surface of the wall185, the guide bars converging upwardly toward the solenoid. When theshoe is retracted the guide bars bring it toward the center of theequipment so that it will be in line with either crank 175, whichever isuppermost at the time.

In the modification disclosed in Fig. 17, an arcuate gate bucket 191i isinterposed between the outlet end of the second vibratory feeder pan 191and the scale bucket 192. A pivotally supported solenoid 193 is providedwith an armature 194 connected to the gate through a crank 1%. Such agate bucket may be used in lieu of the brush Q3 of the principalmodification, and may be used to cut off the dribble from the centraltroughs of the modifications disclosed in Figs. 13 and 14. The gatebucket will accumulate material between weighing actions, which isdumped as a part of the bulk feed.

Having illustrated and described preferred embodiments of the presentinvention, it should be apparent to those skilled in the art that thesame permits of other modifications in arrangement and detail. I claimas my invention all such modifications as come within the true spiritand scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a weighing machine, means for feeding material to be weighed, ascale bucket providing two weighing com partrnents for alternatelyreceiving said material from said feeding means, movable means includinga pivoted member carried by said bucket and movable over center betweentwo alternate positions, said movable mean discharging one of saidcompartments and causing the other of said compartments to receive saidmaterial when said pivoted member is moved from one of said positions tothe other, said pivotal member having a pair of crank arms extendingtherefrom, an operating member reciprocable with respect to said pivotedmember, said reciprocating operating member alternately engaging each ofsaid crank arms of said pivoted member to alternately move it from oneof said positions to the other upon successive recipro cations of saidoperating member in the same direction, and means responsive to apredetermined weight of said scale bucket and material therein forreciprocating operating member to move said pivoted member.

2. in a weighing machine, means for feeding material to be weighed, ascale bucket providing two eighing compartments for alternatelyreceiving said material from said feeding means, movable means includinga pivoted member carried by said bucket and movable over center betweentwo alternate positions, said movable means discharging one of saidcompartments and causing the i of said compartment to receive saidmaterial when said pivoted member is moved from one of said positions tothe other, said pivoted member having a pair of crank arms extendingtherefrom at an angle to each other, an operating member reciprocablealong a path extending transversely of the pivotal axis of said member,one of said crank arms being in said path when said pivoted member is inone of said positions and the other of said crank arms being in saidpath when said pivoted member is in the other of said positions, andmeans for reciprocating said operating member to engage its free endwith the one of said arms in said path and move said pivoted member fromone of said positions to the other and then cause return of saidoperating member, said operating member being supported to have saidfree end movable out of said path by the other of said arms during saidreturn.

3. In a weighing machine, means for feeding material to be weighed, ascale bucket providing two weighing compartments for alternatelyreceiving said material from said feeding means, movable means includinga pivoted member carried by said bucket and movable over center betweentwo alternate positions, said movable means discharging one of saidcompartments and causing the other of said compartments to receive saidmaterial when said pivoted member is moved from one of said positions tothe other, said pivoted member having a pair of crank arms extendingtherefrom at an angle to each other, an operating member reciprocablealong a path extending transversely of the pivotal axis of said member,one of said crank arms being in said path when said pivoted member is inone of said positions and the other of said crank arms being in saidpath when said pivoted member is in the other of said positions, meansfor reciprocating said operating member to engage its free end With theone of said arms in said path and move said pivoted member from one ofsaid positions to the other and then cause return of said operatingmember, said operating member being resiliently connected to said meanstor reciprocating said operating member so as to have said l'ree endmovable out of said path by the other of said arms during said return,said bucket having said compartments laterally disposed with respect toeach other and having fixed bottom and top walls extending at an angleto the vertical from the inlet opening of the bucket to the dischargeopening thereof, said pivoted member extending upwardly from said topwall and having its pivotal axis perpendicular to said top wall, saidoperating member having its path of reciprocation parallel to said topwall, and guide means carried by said reciprocating member and restingon said top wall.

4'. In a weighing machine, means for feeding material to be weighed, ascale bucket providing two weighing compartments for alternatelyreceiving said material from said feeding means, movable means includinga pivoted member carried by said bucket and movable over center betweentwo alternate positions, said movable means discharging one of saidcompartments and causing the other of said compartments to receive saidmaterial when said pivoted member is moved from one of said positions tothe other, said pivoted member having a pair of crank arms extendingtherefrom at an angle to each other, an operating member reciprocablealong a path extending transversely of the pivotal axis of said member,one of said crank arms being in said path when said pivoted member is inone of said positions and the other of said crank arms being in saidpath when said pivoted member is in the other of said positions, meansfor reciprocating said operating member to engage its free end with theone of said arms in said path and move said pivoted memher from one ofsaid positions to the other and then cause return of said operatingmember, said operating member being resiliently connected to said meansfor reciprocating said operating member so as to have said free endmovable out of said path by the other of said arms during said return,said bucket having said compartments laterally disposed with respect toeach other and having fixed bottom and top walls extending at an angleto the vertical from the inlet opening of the bucket to the dischargeopening thereof, said pivoted member extending upwardly from said topwall and having its pivotal axis perpendicular to said top wall, saidoperating member having its path of reciprocation parallel to said topwall, and guide means carried by said reciprocating member and restingon said top wall, said guide means including an antifriction bearingengaging the top wall of said bucket and said top wall of said buckethaving angularly disposed guide members engaging said guide means toreturn said free end of said operating member to said path at the end ofsaid return.

5. In a weighing machine, means for feeding material to be weighed, ascale bucket providing two weighing compartments for alternatelyreceiving said material from said feeding means, movable means includinga pivoted member carried by said bucket and movable over center betweentwo alternate positions, said movable means discharging one of saidcompartments and causing the other of said compartments to receive saidmaterial when said pivoted member is moved from one of said positions tothe other, said pivoted member having a pair of crank arms extendingtherefrom at an angle to each other, an operating member reciprocable ina direction extending transversely of the pivotal axis of said member,an actuating shoe having its midpoint pivotally mounted on the end ofsaid opearting member, resilient means retaining said shoe in a positionhaving its ends extending laterally of said direction, one of said crankarms being in the path of one end of said shoe when said pivoted memberis in one of said positions and the other of said crank arms being inthe path of the other end of said shoe when said pivoted member is inthe other of said positions, and means for moving said operating memberalong said path to engage said shoe with the one of said arms in saidpath and move said pivoted member from one of said positions to theother and then cause return of said operating member, said operatingmember being pivoted to the last-named means and movable laterally toclear the other of said arms during said return.

6. In a weighing machine, means for feeding material to be weighed, ascale bucket providing two weighing compartments for alternatelyreceiving said material from said feeding means, movable means includinga pivoted member carried by said bucket and movable over center betweentwo alternate positions, said movable means discharging one of saidcompartments and causing the other of said compartments to receive saidmaterial when said pivoted member is moved from one of said positions tothe other, an operating member movable transversely of the pivotal axisof said member to move said pivoted member from one of said positions tothe other, said feeding means including a first vibratory feederreceiving material to be weighed, a second feeder receiving saidmaterial from said first vibratory feeder and delivering said materialinto one of said compartments, said second vibratory feeder normallycausing said material to be and means responsive to a predeterminedweight of said scale bucket and material therein for first decreasingthe rate of movement of material by said second vibratory feeder belowthat of the first vibratory feeder to provide a dribble of feed and forthereafter causing said operating member to move said pivoted memberwhereby an accurately weighed charge is formed and discharged.

7. In a weighing machine, means for feeding material to be weighed, ascale bucket for receiving said material, said feeding means including afirst vibratory feeder, means for supplying said material to said firstvibratory feeder, a second vibratory feeder for receiving said materialfrom said first vibratory feeder and for delivering said material intosaid bucket, said second vibratory feeder normally feeding said materialwith a greater rate of movement than said first vibratory feeder, meansresponsive to a predetermined weight of said bucket and material thereinfor decreasing the vibration of said second vibratory feeder to reducethe rate of movement of material in said second vibratory feeder andprovide a dribble feed into said bucket, means responsive to a greaterpredetermined weight of said bucket and material therein for blockingthe discharge of said second vibratory feeder into said bucket to stopsaid dribble feed and for thereafter discharging said bucket, thelast-named means being elfective to restore normal operation of saidsecond vibratory feeder after said bucket has been discharged, a rotarytable for holding a plurality of containers, a friction drive tending torotate said table, means normally holding said table against rotationwith one of said containers in position to receive material dischargedfrom said bucket, and means also responsive to said greaterpredetermined weight for releasing said table after discharge of saidbucket and for stopping and again holding said table with anothercontainer positioned to receive material discharged from said bucket.

8. In a weighing machine, means for feeding material to be weighed, ascale bucket providing two Weighing compartments for alternatelyreceiving said material from said feeding means, movable means includinga pivoted member carried by said bucket and movable over center betweentwo alternate positions, said movable means discharging one of saidcompartments and causing the other of said compartments to receive saidmaterial when said pivoted member is moved from one of said positions tothe other, said pivoted member having a pair of crank arms extendingtherefrom at an angle to each other, an operating member movable towardsaid member along a path extending transversely of the pivotal axis ofsaid member, one of said crank arms being in said path when said pivotedmember is in one of said positions and the other of said crank armsbeing in said path when said pivoted member is in the other of saidpositions, means repsonsive to a predetermined weight of said scalebucket and material therein for moving said operating member along saidpath to engage the one of said arms in said path and move said pivotedmember from one of said positions to the other and then cause return ofsaid operating member thereby discharging a weighed charge of materialfrom one of said compartments, said operating member being movable outof said path by the other of said arms during said return, a rotarytable for holding a plurality of containers, a friction drive tending torotate said table, means normally holding said table against rotationwith one of said containers in position to receive said weighed charge,and means for releasing said table after discharge of said weighedcharge into said one container and for stopping and again holding saidtable with another container positioned to receive a weighed charge.

9. In a weighing and packaging machine, means for feeding material to beweighed, a scale bucket providing two weighing compartments foralternately receiving said material from said feeding means, movablemeans including a pivoted member carried by said bucket and movable overcenter between two alternate positions, said movable means dischargingone of said compartments and causing the other of said compartments toreceive said material when said pivoted member is moved from one of saidpositions to the other, said pivoted member having a pair of crank armsextending therefrom at an angle to each other, an operating membermovable to- Ward said member along a path extending transversely of thepivotal axis or said rnember,.one of said crank arms being in said pathwhen said pivoted member is in one of said positions and the other ofsaid crank arms being in said path when said pivoted member is in theother of said positions, means responsive to a predetermined weight ofsaid scale bucket and material therein for moving said operating memberalong said path to engage the one of said arms in said path and movesaid pivoted member from one of said positions to the other and thencause return of said operating member thereby discharging a weighedcharge of material from one ofsaid compartments, said operating memberbeing movable out of said path by the other of said arms during saidreturn, a rotary table for holding a plurality of containers atpositions spaced angularly around said table, a friction drive tendingto rotate said table, means for normally holding said table againstrotation with one of said containers in position to receive said weighedcharge including a plurality of cam members spaced around said tableeach having an inclined surface, a stop member positioned to engage andbe moved by said surfaces, resilient means resisting movement of saidstop member by said surfaces to resiliently stop said table, and meansfor Withdrawing said stop member to release said table.

10. In a weighing machine, means including a scale bucket for formingand discharging a Weighed charge of material, a rotary table for holdinga plurality of containers, a friction drive tending to rotate saidtable, means for stopping and holding said table with one of saidcontainers positioned to receive said charge, means responsive to apredetermined weight of said bucket and material therein for dischargingsaid bucket so as to deliver said charge into said container, said meansfor stopping and holding said table including a plurality of cam memberson said table each having an inclined surface, a stop member normally inthe path of said cam members for engaging said inclined surface so as tobe moved thereby, a device for resiliently resisting movement of saidstop member to resiliently stop and hold said table, and means actuatedby said means responsive to said predetermined weight for releasing saidstop member to release said table.

11. In a weighing machine, means including a scale bucket for formingand discharging a weighed charge of material, a rotary table for holdinga plurality of containers, a friction drive tending to rotate saidtable, means for stopping and holding said table with one of saidcontainers positioned to receive said charge, means responsive to apredetermined weight of said bucket and material therein for dischargingsaid bucket so as to deliver said charge into said container, said meansfor stopping and holding said table including a plurality of spaced cammembers on one surface of said table, each cam member having an inclinedsurface diverging from said surface of said table in a directionopposite the direction of rotation of said table, a stop mechanismhaving a roller normally in the path of said cam members for engagingsaid inclined surfaces, resilient means for holding said roller in saidpath of said cam members to resiliently stop and hold said table, andmeans for momentarily disabling said resilient means to release saidtable.

12. A device for indexing a rotary table comprising a friction drivetending to rotate said table, means for stopping and holding said tableat any one of a plurality of positions, said means including a pluralityof angularly spaced cam members on one surface of said table, each cammember having an inclined surface diverging from said surface of saidtable'in a direction opposite the direction of rotation of said table, astop mechanism having a roller normally in the path of said cam membersfor engaging said inclined surfaces, resilient means for holding saidroller in said path of said cam members to resiliently stop and holdsaid table, and means for momentarily disabling said resilient means torelease said table.

13. In a weighing machine, means including a scale bucket for formingand discharging a Weighed charge of material, a rotary table having aplurality of angularly spaced container holding means each adapted tohold a container, a friction drive tending to rotate said table, meansfor stopping and holding said table to position one of said containersat a plurality of stations including a charge receiving station, meansresponsive to a predetermined weight of said bucket and material thereinfor discharging said bucket so as to deliver said charge into thecontainer at said charge receiving station, said means for stopping andholding said table including a plurality of cam members on said tableeach having an inclined surface, a stop member normally in the path ofsaid cam members for engaging said inclined surface so as to be movedthereby, resilient means resisting movement of said stop member toresiliently stop and hold said table, and means for momentarilydisabling said resiliant means after said charge has been delivered intosaid container at said charge receiving station to release said tableand and again cause it to stop with the last-mentioned container ata'subsequent station, said container holding means being resilientlymounted on said table, and a jogging means adjacent said table, saidjogging means engaging said container holding means at said chargereceiving station and at said subsequent station to jog said onecontainer at the last-mentioned stations.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS744,420 Smail Nov. 17, 1903 1,120,299 Fleming Dec. 8, 1914 1,881,859Mullendore Oct. 11, 1932 2,564,544 Richardson Aug. 14, 1951 2,613,053Dorringdon Oct. 7, 1952 2,624,539 Hartman et a1. Ian. 6, 1953 2,626,042Aldridge Jan. 20, 1953 2,644,661 Avil July 7, 1953

